Improvement in ironing apparatus



, 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. G. CRAWFORD. Ironing Apparatus.

No. 219,346. Patented Sept. 9,1879.

1N\/ENTEI R 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. G. CRAWFORD.

Ironing Apparatus] No. 219,346, V v Paiented Sept. 9,1879.

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NJHERS PHOTO-UTHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. [1.0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES G. CRAWFORD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN IRONING APPABATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 219,346, datedSeptember 9, 1879; application filed February 8, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs G. CRAWFORD,

this machine, the nature of which is fully described below, a greatdegree of excellence is obtained in the finish of the articles ironed,particularly the curtains.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of referenceindicate like parts, Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of my improvedmachine. Fig. 2 Ba vertical section of the ironing-table or platen,cylindrical iron, brush, 850., the section being taken longitudinallywith the machine. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of theplaten with the neck-band shaper detached therefrom. Fig. 4 is a planview of the frame and the gear, pulleys, 800., connected therewith, allabove said frame having been removed. Fig. 5 is a 1011- gitudinalvertical section of the sliding or reciprocating table, taken throughthe slots 7) therein. Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken through thecross-bar G, showing in elevation the screw and other devices upon theinside of the upright F, the section being taken on line as as, Fig. 7.Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-section of a portion of the machine.

A is the frame, supported by suitable legs,

and B is a reciprocating table sliding in the frame A, being providedwith tongues orcleats b, which fit into the corresponding grooves 66 insaid frame. 0 G are two stops (see Fig. 5) placed in slots 12 b in thetable B, extending below said table, and having their upper portions, 0,provided with screw.- threads, upon which are placed nuts 0 c, whichhold the stops in any desired part of the said slots. The object ofthese stops 0 O is to ship the belt from one pulley to another for-thepurpose of causing the table B to slide back and forth, as belowdescribed.

D is the ironing-table or platen attached to and supported by the tableB by means of supports d. d is the binder, (an old device,) the objectof which is to hold the shirt or other article to be ironed upon theplaten D while it is being carried back and forth under the cylindricaliron. E is a neck-band shaper (see Fig. 3) provided with legs or pins 0c,

which fit into corresponding holes (1 d in the pulley 1' upon the shaftf to the fast and loose pulleys g g gl (g g being the loose pulw leys.)When the belt is upon the pulley g, which is fixed to the shaft h,'thecog-wheel 1, which is fixed to the same shaft and meshes into the lowerwheel, 2, actuates it, and the wheel 2 meshes into and actuates thewheel 3, fixed to shaft h, and thecog-wheel 4, being also fixed to shafth, actuates wheel 5, and the pinion 5, meshing into the rack 70,extendin g the length of the under side of the table B, actuates it inone direction. When the belt is upon the pulley g, (as in the drawings,)which is loose upon the shaft h, the cog-wheel 6, which is brazed to thepulley g, actuates the wheel 3, and hence the gear 4 and 5, in theopposite direction, thus carrying the table B, by means of its rack is,in the opposite direction from that in which it is actuated when thebelt is upon the pulley 9, provided, of course, that the direction ofthe movement of the belt is the same. The stops 0 G, which may beplacednearer to or farther from each other, as required, cause the reversingof the motion of the table B by shipping the belt from the pulley g tothe pulley g, and vice versa. The stops strike the lever Z, placedloosely upop the shaft h", which, by means of the rod l, bell-cranklever l, and sliding rod 02, moves the shipper n and shifts the belt. Ofcourse the handle 0 will accomplish the same result, if desired, as maysometimes be the case, when a particular part of the article beingironed needs attention. As stated above, this arrangement is not new initself.

F F are standards, surmounted by a crossbar, G, and H is a cylindricaliron, heated by means of the gas-pipe H, or in any suitable manner. Theiron cylinder or rollerH has its bearin g in sliding blocks I I, heldbetween ribs F F upon the insides of the standards F F. Vertical screwsJ J pass through these blocks 1 1, and are turned by means of thebevel-gear K K K K, rod or shaft L, and wheel M. The object is todepress or raise the cylindrical iron at will, so as to regulate thepressure upon the articles being ironed. A stiff brush, N N", is alsoattached to the standards F I the object of which is to even or levelthe raw starch, particularly in ironing curtains. It being attached byset-screws P through the end pieces P, suitable slots being provided forthe purpose, is easily removable.

The standard It supports the iron S, to

' which is applied a well-known pressure device, the iron being hung 011a suitable hook, c, When not in use.

The ratchet and pawl T U are for the purpose of preventing the roller Hfrom turning, if desired, when the ironing-table is moving in onedirection, the roller being stationary, while the platen slips under it.This is done when a high finish is desired.

It will be' noticed that the gear is so constructed and arranged thatthe table slides in one direction much more rapidly than in the otherdirection. Its return is rapid. This is for the purpose of increasingthe fineness of the finish, especially when the ratchet is down.

To operate the machine, place the shirt or other article upon theironing-table D; then place suitable props y y (dotted lines, Fig. 1)beneath to stiffen it, and start the machine, when the tables B D willmove back and forth, as the stops actuate the shipper, under theironing-roller H. In ironing curtains the brush is used once forward andback, and then raised or removed.

Having thus fully described my improvement, in addition to what I haveabove stated to be old, will say that I do not claim as new anironing-roll, nor a ratchet and pawl connected therewith; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the reciprocating ironing-table D, of thestationary brush NN, rendered adjustable and removable by means of theslotted end pieces P and set-screws P, arranged and constructedsubstantially as and for the purpose above described.

2. In an ironing-machine, the combination, with the stationary brush N Nand ironingroller H, of the ironing-table D and reciprocating table B,said tables being arranged by means of the stops G, fast and loosepulleys g g g", and the gear and shipping apparatus held by the frame A,to slide back at a greater speed than they slide forward for the purposeof imparting a high finish to the articles ironed, as set forth.

JAMES G. CRAWFORD.

Witnesses E. R. WILLIAMS, HENRY W. WILLIAMs.

